Friern Barnet School Staff Governor Relations Policy

Friern Barnet SchoolStaff Governor Relations PolicyLast Reviewed: September 2009 Next Review: September 2012Approved by: Full Governors Date: 12.10.09

Staff/Governor Relations PolicyRationale for Governor Visits to the SchoolVisits to the school during the day can give Governors an important insight into the life of the school andform a part of the Governors’ wider role. If Governors are to carry out their role effectively they need tohave a feel for the atmosphere and ethos and a real understanding of the way the school works. The mainreasons for governors’ visits are:• to learn about the school• to enable the Governing Body to fulfil its accountability role• to show those employed in the school that the work they carry out is valued• to support the school, staff and students, as a critical friend.The Headteacher and staff will actively support extending Governors’ knowledge and understanding ofeducation in line with their increased responsibilities through:• Welcoming them into the school.• Reporting on school development work.• Encouraging Governors’ involvement in professional development and school development throughtraining, visits to other schools, INSET and their involvement in appropriate staff meetings.• Encouraging them to lead Key Stage Assemblies each year to raise their profile with the students• Encouraging them to attend the six Strategic Planning Meetings with the SLT throughout theacademic year.• Encouraging them to support the varied activities that take place in the wider life of the schoolincluding performances, parents’ evenings, raising achievement events, prize giving assemblies andevenings and fund raising events throughout the year.With the help and support of the Governors the school will be able to:• Identify strengths and plan strategies to not just maintain but build on these.• Identify area for school improvement, prioritise these and build them into the School Improvement PPlan within timescales and budgetary constraints.General Protocol for Link GovernorsGovernors may visit the school for a variety of purposes and on each occasion this visit should be recordedon a Governor report form. A Governor is linked to each area of the curriculum (see appendix 1). It is theresponsibility of the Governor to liaise with the Head of Faculty (or area) to arrange visits and a clear focusshould be decided well in advance. The school has a clear protocol in place for Governor visits. (Seeappendix 2).Consultation with the Head of Faculty/Department• The focus of the visit will be discussed with the Head of Faculty/Department as to itsappropriateness.• A mutually convenient time for the visit will be established with the link Governor and theappropriate member(s) of staff and a record of this will be documented in a Governors’ folder kept inthe main school office. (See appendix 3 and 4).1. The visit• Governors should make observations during their visit but it is acknowledged that no professionalteaching judgements should be made.• The focus of the visit should be central to the observation or the dialogue.

• Notes should be made and these should be recorded by the Governor as data for future developmentand school improvement.• Questions to the staff concerned should not interfere with teaching but be noted until an appropriatetime for discussion.2. Feedback• A meeting should be arranged between the Governor and the appropriate staff to discuss the resultsof the visit.• Clarification of issues can be addressed but feedback must be restricted to the identified area.3. Prepare a report• A short report on the visit and any outcomes or follow-ups to be arranged for future visits will bewritten up by the Governor and placed in the Governors’ folder I the main school office, with copiesto the Headteacher, the Head of Faculty and the classroom teacher where appropriate. (See appendix4).• Governors will report back to the full Governing Body via appropriate committees, on their visits tothe school and the aims of any future follow-up work they wish to do.Policy to be monitored by:The Headteacher and Chair of Governors, with regular reports to Governors.

APPENDIX 1All Governors take an active interest in all subject areas, but the following Governors have a particularresponsibility forPerforming and Visual ArtsEnglishHumanitiesMathematicsModern Foreign LanguagesPEScienceSupport (including SEN and G & T)TechnologyICTAssociate StaffCareersLifeskillsStudent VoiceSally Hurcomb and Mario SeptemberEleanor PlattRoss HoustonIan BretmanDaniela AndreevaAndrew EllardJohn Maxwell and Mary OduolaAnne HuttonEdurne Boset.b.aMargaret JohnsonMollie HarrisKate SalingerIan Hooper

APPENDIX 2Protocol for Classroom Visits and Other ActivitiesThe following gives guidance on the protocols surrounding visits to the school by governors.For Governing Body• Ensure that the policy on governors’ visits and a system for reporting back have been agreed with staff.• Recognise that classroom visits and sitting in on meetings are primarily for governors to gain first handknowledge of the school at work.• Ensure that each visit has an explicit purpose and focus, which has been agreed by all concerned.• Ensure that there are agreed timescales for governors’ visits, usually giving at least seven days clearnotice.• Recognise the right for teachers to invite governors into school for specific purposes if they so wish.• The Head of Faculty should provide members of the governing body with the relevant backgroundinformation, i.e. staff names, responsibilities and timetables.• Recognise that any visit to the classroom can be stressful can disrupt normal classroom working, andthat therefore the number of visits should be limited.• Respect the normal conventions of governor confidentiality, in particular issues surrounding named staffor pupils.For Individual Governors• Negotiate a mutually convenient time with the Head of Faculty/Department and class teacher for thevisit and discussion afterwards, recognising that teachers’ and governors’ time is valuable.• Ensure that any visit has an explicit purpose and focus, which has been agreed with all concerned.• Avoid stressful periods such as during or just before an Ofsted inspection or examinations.• Address the teacher as Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms + surname, when speaking to them in front of the childrenor parents.• Always wear a name badge.• Avoid attempting to take on a teaching role, or discussing irrelevant issues with the pupils during thelesson.• Avoid acting in any way like an inspector.• Avoid making promises to staff on behalf of the Governing Body.• Respect the normal conventions of governor confidentiality, in particular issues surrounding named staffor pupils.• Recognise that sometimes it might be appropriate for you to leave the classroom should a situation arisewhich might become more problematic, e.g. a behaviour outburst.For Teachers• Always feel able to suggest an alternative time if the visit is not convenient.• Ensure that each visit has an explicit purpose and focus, which has been agreed by all concerned.• Prepare your class for the visit of a governor.• Welcome the governor when they arrive in your class.• Have a seat ready for the governor and tell them where it is.• Be aware that a visit can be stressful for staff and governors alike.• Inform the governor if you wish them to be involved in the lesson, and what it would be helpful for themto do.• Don’t leave your governor alone with the class, even if they are willing to do so.• Raise any concerns over the visit with your line manager or Headteacher.• Avoid discussing unrelated issues during the lesson.

APPENDIX 3 A Monitoring Calendar for the Governing Body 2009/10Departments INSET/FBS activityEnglish Eleanor PlattMathematics Ian BretmanScience Pat ForwardPerforming and Visual Arts Sally HurcombMFL Daniela AndreevaHumanities Ross HoustonPE Andrew EllardICT t.b.a.Technology Edurne BoseCareers Mollie HarrisLifeskills Kate SalingerInclusion including SEN and Anne HuttonG & TAssociate Staff Margaret JohnsonStudent Voice Ian HooperSpring TermGovernor Date of visit Date of report toGoverningBody/CommitteeDate of visitSummer TermDate of report toGoverningBody/Committee

APPENDIX 4Evidence of Governor Visits to Friern Barnet SchoolName of Governor: _______________________Date of Visit Member of Staff: Activity: Brief description of focus of visit: Comments/Action Points/Outcome